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William Kamkwamba: How I built my family a windmill
When he was just 14 years old, Malawian inventor William Kamkwamba built his family an electricity-generating windmill from spare parts, working from rough plans he found in a library book
William, hi, good to see you!
Thanks.
So, um, we got a picture I think, where is this?
This is my home, this is where I live.
Where, what country?
In the Malawian zone, in Kasonga, yeah, Malawi.
OK, now, you’re 19 now?
Yeah, I am 19-year-old now.
5 years ago, you had an idea. What was that?
I want to make a windmill.
Windmill?
Yeah.
And so, just water power electric for lighting and stuff?
Yeah.
So what did you do, how do you realize that?
Er, after I dropped out from school, I went to library and I read a book Technology, using energy, and I get information about doing the mill. And I tried and I made it.
So, (applause) so, you copied, you exactly copied the design in the book?
Er, no, I adjust.
What happened?
In fact, a design of the windmill, it was in the book, it had got for up 3 plates, and mine have got four plates.
The book had 3, yours have 4? (Yeah.) And you made that out of what?
Er, I made 4 plates just because I want to increase power.
OK, did you test it 3 and found that 4 works better?
Yeah, I adjust.
And what did you make the windmill out of? What materials did you use?
I use a bicyle frame and a pulley and plastic pipe, wooden poles.
Do we have a picture of that claim in the next slide?
Yeah, so that’s the windmill.
And so, and that windmill, what, it worked?
When the wind blows, it produces and generates (electricity).
How much electricity?
2 volts.
And so, that lit a light for the house? How many lights?
4 bulbs and 2 radios.
Well!
Yeah.
And so, next slide.
So who’s that?
This is my parents. Work in the radio.
So, what did they make of that, you were 14, 15 at that time, what did they make of this?
They impressed?
Yes.
So what are you gonna do with this? What do you I mean, do you want to build another one?
Yeah, I want to build another one to pump water, irrigation for crops.
So, this sort of has to be bigger?
Yeah.
How big?
I think it will produce more than 20 volts.
So that would produce irrigation for the entire village? (Yeah.) Wow, and so you are talking to people here attend to get people who might be able to help in some way to realize this dream.
Yeah, if they can help me, ….
And as you think of your life going forward, you’re 19 now, do you picture continuing with this dream of working in energy?
Yeah, I am still thinking to work on energy.
Wow, William, it’s a real honor to have you at the Thai conference. Thank you so much for coming.
Thank you.
